Pc Laura Beal said it had 'truly been an honour' to serve but the job left her suffering from stress, depression and anxiety.

By EMMA LAKE

2nd March 2017, 2:08 pm

Updated: 3rd March 2017, 11:41 am

A POLICE officer 'poster girl' has quit the force with a scathing resignation letter where she claims a lack of resources and support "kills me both physically and mentally".

In an emotional Facebook post Pc Laura Beal told friends and family it had "truly been an honour" to serve with Devon and Cornwall Police for 13 years, but that the pressures of her role had left her suffering from stress, depression and anxiety.

In it she wrote: "Your staff are not coping, and are suffering because there is no one looking out for them.

"Please take it from someone who has been personally affected and has been so low she has wondered what the point of it all is, and only through her friends and family been able to see that there is more to life than policing."

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HEARTLESS AND DISGUSTING

Laura, who followed her father into policing, joining in 2004, said the "total lack of support both governmental and from the Chief Officer Group has made me lose all faith in the job I loved".

In the letter she explained that she was expected to go on patrol as a response officer covering mid-Devon with just one other officer most days.

"This is meant to be adequate staffing and safe," she wrote.

"How this can be acceptable is beyond belief. I have always worked to the best of my ability as I had pride in what I did. This however is not possible any more."

She added: "I am leaving before this job kills me both physically and mentally.

"I am not only sad because I see what is potentially an amazing career get ruined by hypocrisy and lack of funding; but also because I know I am not the only one going through this and not everyone that needs the help and support will be as lucky as I am to be able to leave."

Laura called on the chief constable to make the situation better for her colleagues, saying she wanted "so much for their lives to get better".

"It is your responsibility to make this right; the front line needs more officers, leadership and managerial support," she said.

Laura became a 'poster girl' for the force back in 2010 - featuring in the "You matter, we care" campaign.

She will start her own business, Naturally Pawsome Grooming, in March.
The Facebook post has been shared nearly 200 times and has over 300 comments, a number of them from other former officers who said they left for similar reasons.

In response Chief Superintendent Jim Colwell, Devon Commander, said: “I am aware of PC Laura Beal’s resignation and am sympathetic to the reasons she gives for leaving the Force. I would like to formally thank PC Beal for her loyal service, hearing of an officer resigning is sad, particularly when this is done so publicly.

“We do hear concerns from officers and staff and recognise where they are feeling the strain. We acknowledge that these are issues undoubtedly have an impact on staff well-being.

“Staff wellness is a priority for the Force and we have a series of initiatives in place to assist such as a peer support network, a counselling service and we have implemented the Blue Light programme developed by mental health charity Mind, aimed at emergency services staff.

"We are a supportive Force and will always assist an officer needing help or guidance.”

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